Boasting 201 horsepower thanks to a direct injection 1.6-liter engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, the Veloster Turbo now promises to be very quick indeed. The six-speed manual transmission is tuned for better performance, and a regular six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters replaces the regular Veloster's dual clutch automatic to cope with the increased torque. A sharper steering rack rounds out the important mechanical changes, but it'll be some time before we learn how well and how fast this baby drives.
Hyundai is benchmarking it against competitors such as the MINI Cooper S and Countryman S. And with the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) lowering the taxes imposed on Korean-made imports, it's a fair bet that the Veloster Turbo will cost much less than either rivals if it ever arrives in the Philippines.
There's no word yet though if HARI will launch the Veloster Turbo locally. But considering HARI does sell the turbocharged and V6 Genesis Coupe, and the standard Veloster coming later this year, chances are looking good.
